Asira Tarannum (MID-DAY; October 31, 2014)

Lyricist Manoj Muntashir has claimed that he had penned the music of Ketan Mehta’s Rang Rasiya six years ago, but his name from the credits is missing. He says, “I had the lyrics ready then but the film was put on the backburner. I also wrote the lyrics for Mehta’s Tere Mere Phere but was not given credit. When I was told that it was an error, I did not make an issue out of it. But to my surprise, my name has gone missing from the music promos of Rang Rasiya too.”

He believes that an old argument with the filmmaker may have prompted the situation. “I had a small fight with him over some finances. He hadn’t compensated me for my work and I told him I would approach the association if he didn’t pay me. Then he cleared my dues and we went out of touch,” he adds.

Muntashir labels Rang Rasiya as “one of my finest work” and feels cheated for being denied credit. “It is my right to have my name on the music promos. I was again told that it’s a human error and that they will rectify it. They haven’t, so far. I have exchanged several text messages and e- mails with Mehta and his wife, Deepa Sahi,” he states.

Sahi, who is producing the film, says, “Manoj Muntashir is a great poet and we introduced him at the music launch. He pointed out the error and I am told by the marketing team that the rectified footage has been sent to the channels. He has done brilliant work in our film.”